Moving-picture machine.



No. 879,355. PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908. D. J. BELL.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED M323, 1906.

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IIIIFI mum- No. 879,355. PATENTED PEB.18, 1908. D. J. BELL.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1906.

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No. 879,355. PATENTED FEB.18, 1908. D. J. BELL.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED APB,.28, 1906.

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M? JUJ6U fade/@111 No. 879,355. PATENTED FEB. 18,1908. D. J. BELL.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1906.

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DDDDDUDEIDEIDD UDEIEIDDEIDDDUU PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

D. J. BELL.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2a, 1906.

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pinion 15 and provided on its opposite end i DONALD J. BELL, QF

CHICAGO, ILLINOI S.

MOVING-PICTURE MACHINE.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. 18,1908.

Application filed April 2s.190s.- Seria1No.313.188.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that DONALD J. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moving-Picture Machines, of which the followin is a specification.

My invention re ates to improvements in moving picture machines and the object of my improvements is to provide efficient means for producing upon a canvas or the like in rapid succession a series of photographic or other pictures showing consecutively the different positions or attitudes assumed by moving objects.

A further object is to provide fire extinguishing means through which the film is passed after it leaves the lens.

In the drawin Figure l is a side elevation view of my improved moving picture machine; Fig. 2 an elevation view of the opposite side of the same; Fig. 3 a front elevation view of the same; Fig. 4 a rear elevation view of the same with the shutters removed; Fig. 5 a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 'of Fig. 4 with the door open; Fig. 6 an edge view of a hinged door removed from the machine; Fig. 7 a cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale; Fig. 9 a view on an enlarged scale of the intermittent gears; Fig. 10 a detail top plan view; Fig. 11 a rear elevation view of a frame removed from the machine; Fig. 12 a rear elevation view of a plate detached from the machine; and Fig. 13 a fragment of a film strip used in my machine. Referring to the drawing in detaill represents the hollow base, of the machine, having a vertical opening 2 formed in the rear portion of its top. Secured to the front portion of the top of the-base by a bolt 3 is a vertical supporting frame 4 having two slots 5 and 6, and provided with a circular opening 7 fora lens case 8, and havin in its rear side a centrally located vertica groove 9. Slidably mounted on the rear side of the frame 4 is a vertically movable or carrying frame 10 provided on its inner face with a vertical rib 11 slidably fitting said groove 9, and secured to the frame 4 by two bolts 12 and 13 arranged respectively in the slots 5 and 6. Rotatably mounted in the lower end of frame 10 is an axle 14 having on one end a i with a gear 16 and a handle 17. Mounted in the frame 10 above the gear 16 is a rotatable axle 18 havin a pinion 19 meshing with the gear 16, and provided on the same end with a balance wheel 20, and having between its ends an intermittent gear 21 and provided on its opposite end with a pinion 22 meshing with an idle ear 23 which in turn meshes with a secon idle gear 24 which latter in turn meshes with a gear 25 mounted on an axle 26 carrying two sprocket pulleys 27 and 28 for fee the machine.

Hinged to the upper end of the frame 10 at 30 is a frame 31 having an arm 32 carrying two flanged guide pulleys 33 and 34 arranged slightly above anddirectly in front of and adjacent to the s rocket pulleys 27 and 28 respectively, an having an arm 35 carrying two pulleys 36 and 37 arranged respectively above and traveling on the sprocket pulleys 27 and 28 and provided respectively with annular grooves 38 and 39 to receive the teeth on the'sprocket pulleys 27 and 28 respectively, and rovided with a pin 40 extending through a slot 41 in the frame 10 and yieldingly connected with the latter by a coil spring 42 adapted to cause the grooved pulleys 36 and 37 to yieldingly engage the sprocket pulleys 27 and 28 respectively.

Arranged in the rear portion of the frame 10 is a stationary plate or frame 43 having a central opening 44 directly opposite the lens, and supported by two rods 45 projecting from the rear'side of the frame 4. Located ng the film strip 29 into immediately back of said plate 43 and secured to the frame 10, by screws 46, is a plate 47 having a rectangular opening 48 registering with'the opening 44 in the plate 43, and

having secured to its rear face two flat vertical strips or ribs 49 and 50 located directly below the sprocket pulleys 27 and 28 respec- 'tively. Just back of the plate 47 is a door 51 hinged at 52 and 53 to the frame 10, and having a rectangular central opening 54 registering with the opening 48 in the plate 47, and provided at its upper end with two flanged pulleys 55 and 56 located opposite the sprocket pulleys 27 and 28 respectively and adapted for engagement with the film strip, and having mounted thereon two thin flexible bands or springs 57 and 58 located opposite and yieldingly engaging the stri s 49 and 50 respectively and secured to t e door by screws 59 and 60 respectively. Said door 51 havingon its edge opposite the hinges a portion engaged by a button 61 for kee ing the door closed.

l otatably mounted in the frame 10 below the axle 18 is an axle 62 having secured thereon an intermittent gear 63 which is engaged by and receives an intermittent rotatable movement from the intermittent gear 21, and havin secured thereon two s )rocket pulleys 64 'an 65 for intermittently (lrawin the film strip downwardly past the lens am from between the strips 49, 50 and the flexible bands 57, 58 respectively. Mountedin slotted openings 66 formed in the lower end of the door is an axle 67 carryin two plain pulleys 68 and 69 which are cause by means of two springs 70 and 71, to yieldingly engage the opposite edges of the film strip when the latter passes downwardly between the sprocket pulleys 64, and the said pulleys 68, 69. Secured to the rear side of the frame 10 below the lens case, by means of a clamp 72, is an upright film guard 73.

On the opposite side of the machine from the main driving gear 16 is an arm or frame 74 having its upper end secured to the frame 10 by a screw 75, and carrying a stud shaft 76 having thereon an idle gear 77, and carrying a fire extinguishing mechanism consisting partially of a vertical cylindrical tube 78 slidably arranged in the openin 2 in the base and having on its upper en a head or frame 79 having its top open and secured at one side to the lower end of the carrying arm 74 by a screw 80. Rotatably mounted in the upper front portion of the head7 9 and extending through the arm 74 is an axle 81 carrying a drum or roller 82 provided at each end with teeth 83 ada ted to engage the perforations 29 in the fi l m strip and carry the latter downwardly into the tube 78 after it leaves the sprocket pulleys 64 and 65. Slidably mounted on the outer end of the axle 81 is a sleeve 84 having a longitudinal slot 85 to receive a pin 86 projecting from the axle 81, and provided at its inner end'with a gear 87 meshing normally with the idle gear 7 7 and having on its outer end a milled head 88 for sliding the sleeve 84 on the axle 81 to disenage the gears 77 and 87 as shown by the dotted lines in Fig, 4 to permit the axle 81 and drum 82 to be rotated independently of the other gearing. Arranged within the sleeve 84 and surrounding the axle 81 is a coil spring 92 adapted normally. to keep the gear 87 in engagement with the idle gear 77. Hinged by a pin 89 to the head 79 is a closure or trap door 90 for closing the opening in the top of the said head.

' Rotatably mounted in the free end of the closure 90 is a roller 91 provided near its end with annular grooves to receive the teeth 83 on the roller 82, and adapted to closely engage the film as same passes downwardly between the former roller and the roller 82.

l Surrounding the central portion of the pin 89 is a'coil spring 93 adapted normally-- to lift the free end of the closure 90. Secured on the upper edgeof one side of the head 79 is a small button 94 for holding the closure 90 in a horizontal operative position. When released from the button 94 the closure 90 will be caused by the s ring 93 to assume a position indicated by t e dotted lines 90 in Fig. 2. There is also hinged to the pin 89 a frame 95 carrying a roller 96 provided at its ends with annular flanges 97 which are-caused by the springs 98 to yieldingly engage the edges of the filfn strip as the latter passes between the rollers 96 and 82.

Secured to the front of the frame 10 by screws 99 is a frame 100 carrying an axle 101 provided on its outer end with a pinion 102 meshing with the gear 16 and having secured on its inner end a bevel-pinion 103. There is also mounted in frame 100 a rotatable shaft 104 on which there is secured a pinion 105 meshing with and rotated by the pinion 103. ltotatably mounted on the said shaft 104 is a sleeve 106 having secured on its inner end a bevel-pinion 107 meshing with and driven by the pinion 103. Removably secured on the outer end of said sleeve 106 is a shutter having two narrow lobes 108 and 109 and one wide lobe 110 and provided with a slotted hub 111 carrying a set screw 112. Secured on the outer end of the shaft 104 is a sleeve 113 carrying a shutter having two narrow lobes 114 and one wide lobe 115, and provided with a slotted hub 116 carrying a set screw 117.

The relative connection of the several parts of the mechanism above described is such that the two Wide shutter lobes 110 and 115 rotating in opposite directions are adapted, when properly set on the sleeves 106 and 113, to successively cover the lens just as the s rocket pulleys 64, 65 start. to move the fi m strip past the lens, and to successively uncover the. lens just as the film strip stops. The narrow lobes of the shutters are adapted to make the flickers consecutive on the canvas. Fulcrumed to the frame 4 at 118 is a lever 119 connected by a link 120 with the frame 10, and adapted to raise and lower the said frame 10 and all the mechanism carried thereby, including the fire extinguishing mechanism.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the lever and frame 10 and the mechanism carried by the latter are shown in the lowered position, and in Fig. 5 the same are shown in the elevated position.

The operation of the above described machine is as follows: A suitable reel, wound with a suitable strip of film, is mounted above the machine and is preferably secured to the frame 4 by means of the screws 121, 122, 123 and 124. The end of the film is then passed from the front rearwardly under the flange pulleys 33, 34 and under the grooved pulleys 36, 37 and between the latter and the sprocket pulleys 27, 28 with the teeth of the latter inserted in the film perforations, and thence downwardly between the strips 49, 50 and the springs 57, 58, and thence between the sprocket pulleys 64, 65 and the pulleys 68, 69 with the teeth on the sprocket pulleys inserted in the film perforations, and thence between the roller 96 and roller 82 with the teeth 83 inserted in the perforations in the film, and thence between the latter roller and the roller 91 into the tube 78 as indicated by the dotted line 29 in Fig. 5. The frame 10 is then adjusted, by means of the lever 119, to the proper position to place one of the film pictures directly back of the lens and between the latter and a powerful electric or other suitable light. Then by turning the crank 17 the film is caused to move rapidly and intermittently-downwardly past the lens as already described.

The machine when in operation is preferably mounted on a suitable box or receptacle to receive the film strip after itpasses through the tube 78.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a moving icture machine, two rotatable shutters, eac composed of 'a plurality of radial blades arranged at equ1-distant points and'said shutters so mounted that the lades of one will be equi-distant from the blades of the other shutter, shafts carryin said shutters, and means for rotating said shafts.

2. In a moving picture machine, a solid shaft and a hollow shaft carried by said solid shaft, a beveled pinion arranged on said solid shaft, a beveled pinion arranged on said hollow shaft, and a third pinion meshing with said pinions, shutters mounted on said shafts respectively, each of said shutters consisting of three radial blades arranged equi-distant from each other, and me ans, including the first named pinion, for driving said solid shaft.

3. In a moving picture machine, a plurality of rotatable shutters, each composed of a single blade of relatively large area and other blades of small area, and the blades of one shutter correspondin in size and arrangement with the blades 0 the other shutter, and means for rotating said blades in opposite directions at the same s eed.

In testimony whereof I a my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DONALD J. BELL.

Witnesses:

O. K. TREGO, JOHN C. HOPKINS. 

